rz.thegunsofavalon-第23节
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l coast； lay a smashed and pitted plain of angular rocks and gravel； just now emerging from hell or night into dawn's first glow； and alive with shadows。
Yes； it was right。
I dismounted and watched the sun force a bleak and glaring day upon the prospect。 It was the hard； white light I had sought。 Here； sans humans； was the necessary place； just as I had seen it decades earlier on the shadow Earth of my exile。 No bulldozers； sifters； broom…wielding blacks； no maximum…security city of Oranjemund。 No X…ray machines； barbed wire； or armed guards。 None of these things here。 No。 For this shadow had never known a Sir Ernest Oppenheimer； and there had never been a Consolidated Diamond Mines of South West Africa； nor a government to approve their amalgamation of coastal mining interests。 Here was the desert called Namib in that place some four hundred miles to the northwest of Cape Town； a strip of dunes and rocks ranging from a couple to a dozen miles in width and running along that forsaken coast line for perhaps three hundred miles on the seaward side of the Richtersveld Mountains； within whose shadow I now stood。 Here； unlike any conventional mine； the diamonds were scattered as casually as bird droppings across the sand。 I； of course； had brought along a rake and a sieve。
I broke out the rations and prepared breakfast。 It was going to be a hot； dusty day。
***
As I worked the dunes； I thought of Doyle； the little wispy…haired jeweler with the brick…red plexion and wens on his cheeks； back in Avalon。 Jewelers rouge？ Why did I want all that jewelers rouge … enough to supply an army of jewelers for a dozen lifetimes？ I had shrugged。 What was it to him what I wanted it for； so long as I was able to pay for it？ Well； if there was some new use for the stuff and good money to be made； a man would be a fool。。。 In other words； he would be unable to furnish me with such a quantity within a week？ Small； square chuckles had escaped through the gaps in his smile。 A week？ Oh； no！ Of course not！ That was ridiculous； out of the question。。。 I saw。 Well； a quick thanks and perhaps his petitor up the way might be able to produce the stuff； and might also be interested in a few uncut diamonds I was expecting in a matter of days。。。 Diamonds； did I say？ Wait。 He was always interested in diamonds himself。。。 Yes； but he was sadly deficient in the jewelers rouge department。 A raised hand。 It might be that he had spoken hastily with respect to his ability to produce the polishing material。 It was the quantity that had disturbed him。 But the ingredients were plentiful and the formula fairly simple。 Yes； that was no real reason why something could not be worked out。 Within a week； at that。 Now； about the diamonds。。。
Before I left his shop； something had been worked out。
I have met many persons who thought that gunpowder explodes； which of course is incorrect。 It burns rapidly； building up gas pressure which ejects a bullet from the mouth of a shell and drives it through the barrel of a weapon； after having been ignited by the primer； which does the actual exploding when the firing pin is driven into it。 Now； with typical family foresight； I had experimented with a variety of bustibles over the years。 My disappointment at the discovery that gunpowder would not ignite in Amber； and that all of the primers I tested were equally inert there； was a thing mitigated only by the knowledge that none of my relatives could bring firearms into Amber either。 It was much later； during a visit to Amber； after polishing a bracelet I had brought for Deirdre； that I discovered this wonderful property of jewelers rouge from Avalon when I disposed of the polishing cloth in a fireplace。 Fortunately； the quantity involved was small； and I was alone at the time。
It made an excellent primer； straight from the container。 When cut with a sufficient quantity of inert material； it could also be made to burn properly。
I kept this bit of information to myself； feeling that one day it would be used to decide certain basic issues in Amber。 Unfortunately； Eric and I had our run…in before that day arrived and it went into storage along with all my other memories。 When things finally did clear for me； my fortunes were quickly cast with those of Bleys； who was preparing an assault on Amber。 He had not really needed me then； but had taken me in on the enterprise； I feel； so that he could keep an eye on me。 Had I furnished him with guns； he would have been invincible and I would have been unnecessary。 More important； had we succeeded in seizing Amber in accordance with his plans； the situation would have bee strained indeed； with the bulk of the occupying forces； as well as the officers' loyalty； his。 Then I would have required something to adjust the balance of power more equitably。 A few bombs and automatic weapons； say。
Had I been my whole self even a month earlier； things would have been quite different。 I could have been sitting in Amber； rather than being scorched； abraded； and desiccated； with another hellride before me and a knot of troubles to be worked out after that。
I spat sand so that I would not choke when I laughed。 Hell； we make our own ifs。 I had better things to think about than what could have happened。 Like Eric。。。
I remember that day； Eric。 I was in chains and I had been forced to my knees before the throne。 I had already crowned myself； to mock you； and been beaten for it。 The second time I had the crown in my hands； I threw it at you。 But you caught it and smiled。 I was glad that it was not damaged when it failed to damage you。 Such a beautiful thing。。。 All of silver； with its seven high points； and studded with emeralds to beat all diamonds。 Two large rubies at either temple。。。 You crowned yourself that day； all arrogance and hasty pomp。 The first words that you spoke then were whispered to me； before the echoes of 〃Long live the king！〃 had died within the hall。 I remember every one of them。 〃Your eyes have looked upon the fairest sight they ever will behold；〃 you said。 Then； 〃Guards！〃 you ordered。 〃Take Corwin away to the smithy； and let his eyes be burnt from out his head！ Let him remember the sights of this day as the last he might ever see！ Then cast him into the darkness of the deepest dungeon beneath Amber； and let his name be forgotten！〃
〃Now you reign in Amber；〃 I said aloud。 〃But I have my eyes； and I have neither forgotten nor been forgotten。〃
No； I thought。 Wrap yourself in the kingship； Eric。 The walls of Amber are high and thick。 Stay behind them。 Ring yourself with the futile steel of blades。 Antlike； you armor your house in dust。 You know now that you will never be secure so long as I live； and I have told you that I will be back。 I am ing； Eric。 I will bring me up guns out of Avalon； and I will break down your doors and smite your defenders。 Then it will be as it was； briefly； another time； before your men came to you and saved you。 That day I had only a few drops of your blood。 This time； I will have it all。
I uncovered another rough diamond； the sixteenth or so； and flipped it into the sack at my waist。
***
As I faced the setting sun； I wondered about Benedict； Julian； and Gerard。 What was the connection？ Whatever； I did not like any bination of interests which involved Julian。 Gerard was all right。 I had been able to sleep back at the camp when I had thought that it was he whom Benedict was contacting。 If he was now allied with Julian； though； it was cause for increased uneasiness。 If anyone hated me even more than Eric； it was Julian。 If he knew where I was； then my danger was great。 I was not yet ready for a confrontation。
I supposed Benedict could find a moral justification for selling me out at this point。 After all； he knew that whatever I did … and he knew that I was going to do something … would result in strife in Amber。 I could understand； even sympathize with； his feelings。 He was dedicated to the preservation of the realm。 Unlike Julian； he was a man of principle； and I regretted having to be at odds with him。 My hope was that my coup would be as quick and painless as a tooth extraction under gas； and that we would be back on the same side again soon afterward。 Having met Dara now； I also wanted it this way for her sake。
He had told me too little for fort。 I had no way of knowing whether he really intended to remain in the field the entire week； or whether he was even now cooperating with the forces of Amber in the laying of my trap； the walling of my prison； the digging of my grave。 I had to hurry； though I longed to linger in Avalon。
I envied Ganelon； in whatever tavern or brothel he drank； whored； or fought； on whatever hillside he hunted。 He had e home。 Should I leave him to his pleasures； despite his offer to acpany me to Amber？ But no； he would be questioned on my departure … used badly； if Julian had anything to do with it … and then bee an outcast in what must seem his own land to him； if they let him go at all。 Then he would doubtless bee an outlaw again； and the third time would probably prove his undoing。 No； I would keep my promise。 He would e with me； if that was he still wanted。 If he had changed his mind； well … I even envied him the prospect of outlawry in Avalon。
